Dunn Loring station is a Washington Metro station in Fairfax County, Virginia, on the Orange Line. The station is in Merrifield, with a Vienna mailing address. The station is in the median of Interstate 66 at Gallows Road, just outside the Capital Beltway, and is accessed by a footbridge over the eastbound lanes.

Dunn Loring
Merrifield
Dunn Loring station platform in May 2010 facing west
General information
Location2700 Gallows Road
Merrifield, Virginia, U.S.
Coordinates38°53′00″N 77°13′41″W / 38.8833529°N 77.2281200°W / 38.8833529; -77.2281200
Owned byWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Bus stands7
Bus operators
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking2,000 spaces
Bicycle facilitiesCapital Bikeshare, 40 racks, 34 lockers
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeK07
History
OpenedJune 7, 1986; 38 years ago (June 7, 1986)
Rebuilt2020
Previous namesDunn Loring (1986–1998, 2011–present)
Dunn Loring–Merrifield (1998–2011)
Passengers
20231,236 daily[1]
Rank75 out of 98
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station
Vienna
Terminus
Orange Line West Falls Church
Location
Map

History

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The station opened on June 7, 1986.[2] Its opening coincided with the completion of 9.1 miles (14.6 km) of rail west of the Ballston–MU station and the opening of the East Falls Church, West Falls Church and Vienna stations.[2] By 1993, officials in Fairfax City were looking to add "Merrifield" to the station name.[3] In 1998, the station name was changed to Dunn Loring–Merrifield.[4] On November 3, 2011, the station returned to its original name, with "Merrifield" listed as a subtitle.[5]

In May 2018, Metro announced an extensive renovation of platforms at twenty stations across the system. The platforms at the Dunn Loring station would be rebuilt starting in mid-2020.[6]

From May 23 until September 7, 2020, this station was closed due to the platform reconstruction project which closed stations west of Ballston–MU station.[7][8]

On June 3, 2023, this station was closed for track replacement, affecting stations west of Ballston–MU station. Service resumed on July 17, 2023.[9]

Development project

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In August 2011, Mill Creek Residential Trust, in cooperation with WMATA, began development on a new mixed-use development area known as Alexan Dunn Loring.[10] The project was required to not reduce the number of parking spaces available to Metro riders.[11] The first completed step was to remove the existing kiss and ride area, as well as the bus bays. This area became the primary Metro parking lot, while the old parking lot was built into a new parking garage. The new parking garage opened in August 2013.[12] After the parking garage opened, construction began on the mixed-use development in the area of the temporary parking lot. Phase 1 of the mixed-use development project was scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2014.[13][14] Construction was expected to be completed in 2015.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Lynton, Stephen J. (June 8, 1986), "9.1 more miles for Metrorail", The Washington Post, p. C1
  3. ^ Shear, Michael D. (August 26, 1993), "Angling to get on Metro Map; Merrifield, Fairfax City want stations renamed", The Washington Post, p. V1
  4. ^ Pae, Peter (August 21, 1997), "New names for Metro stations", The Washington Post, p. V1
  5. ^ "Station names updated for new map" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. November 3, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "Metro wants to rebuild 20 station platforms over three years, creating SafeTrack-like disruptions". Washington Post. May 7, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  7. ^ "Metro to use upcoming low-ridership summer to maximum effect, expands Orange, Silver line shutdown". www.wmata.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "Platform Improvement Project | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Olmo, Joseph; Hageman, Allison (July 17, 2023). "Vienna and Dunn Loring Orange Line stations reopen after months of track work". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Dunn Loring–Merrifield Metrorail Station". wmata.com. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  11. ^ "Environmental Document" (PDF). wmata.com. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014. Through out any phase of construction of the proposed development, at least 1,355 parking spaces (existing number of spaces today) must be available to Metro patrons.
  12. ^ Hedgpeth, Dana (August 20, 2013). "New Metro parking garage at Dunn Loring". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  13. ^ "Dunn Loring–Merrifield Metro" (PDF). JBGR Retail. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014. Delivery Date: 1st Quarter 2014
  14. ^ "Dunn Loring Metro Apartments". Mill Creek Residential Trust. Retrieved November 10, 2014. Leasing to begin May 2013
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